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(No Modem I C. D. FR-EBLAND.& J. A. WHARRY.

, FENCE POST. No. 280,302. Patented June 26, 1883,.

c Ulhogvapher, Washington D c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

cHAELEs D. FREELAND AND JAMES A. WHAEEY, or TEERE HAUTE, Inn, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO PETER N. sTAE 'oE SAME PLACE.

'FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,302, dated June 26, 1883," Application filed September 20, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, GHARLEs D. FREELAND and JAMES A. WHARRY, citizens .of the United States, residing at Terre Haute, in the county of Vigo and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence- Posts; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to fence-posts; and the novelty consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, aswill be more fully hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

The invention is especially adapted for efficient service in connection with wires in the construction of wire fences; but it is also useful with any kind of rail as ordinarily used.

The object of the invention is to provide a post which shall be durable, simple, and cheap of construction, efficient in service, and of.

' sightly appearance; andto these ends the invention consists, essentially, in a curved iron body of sheet metal, having one side longer than the other, and provided with means for securing the wires, and an earthen or concrete base-block having a recess to receive the base of the curved iron, and a concave bottom, as will be more fully described.

The invention is fully illustrated in the ac-. coinpanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the fence-post complete; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view. I I

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a U shaped sheet-metal body struck up for the purpose, and having a long side. a, and ashort side, a, the longer side being provided with slotted eyes 2), formed by an inclined cut, as

shown. The point thus formed by the cut is bent to one side, and may be sprung in that direction far enough to admit a wire or rail securing tie, and then forced back to lock the wire in the eye. The short side a serves as a bearing for the wires, thus giving thema 7 double bearing-surface and tending to relieve the longerside of a portion of the strain. This is especially so with the corner-posts.

By making the body of the post U-shaped we are enabled to use very thin metal, thus furnishing a light as well as strong and serv iceable post, the curve adding strength to the same.

The base of the body A is recessed in a corresponding aperture, d, in an earthen or con crete block, I), and is secured therein by solder, sulphur, or the like, and these blocks D have a concave lower bearing, (1, which re ceives the earth and assists to give such blocks a firm hold. V

Modifications in details of construction may be made without departing from the principle of our invention, the essential features of which will be readily perceived from the foregoing description in connection with the drawings.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi A fence-post consisting of the U-shaped body, of struck-up sheet metal, having ashort and long side, the latter being provided with slotted eyes for the reception of wires, and the short side serving as a bearing for said wires, the said body being set or arranged, in the manner described, in a concrete or earthen base, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presenceof two witnesses.

CHARLES D. FREELAND.

JAMES A. XVHARRY. Vitnesses:

ANDREW GRIMES, J AMEs FITZPATRICK. 

